Device for applying bands to containers



June 26, 1956 R. J. BARTLETT ET AL 2,751,735

DEVICE FOR APPLYING BANDS To CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 13,1951 ATTORNEYS Waal.

June Z5, i956 R. 5. BARTLETT ET AL 2,?59735 DEVICE FOR PPLYING BANDS TOCONTAINERS Filed Nov. 15, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEYS June 26, 1956R. J. BARTLETT ET Al. 2,751,735

DEVICE FOR APPLYING BANDS To CONTAINERS 4 ShesLs-Sheet Filed NOV. l51951 INVENTOR. RICHARD J. BARTLETT 8 ROBERT W. HOMPE FIGS.

ATTORNEYS June 26, 1956 R. J. BARTLETT ETAL 2,751,735

DEVICE EOE APPEYING BANDS To CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 15. 1951 4shwrs-snee: 4

United States Patent DEVICE Fon APPLYING BANDS 'To CONTAINERS Richard J.Bartlett, Chalfonte, and Robert W. Hompe, Ithan, Pa., assignors, by'mesne assignments, to Geo. J. Meyer Manufacturing Co., Cudahy, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Application YNovember 13, 1.951, Serial No.256,016

31 Claims. (Cl. 53-1-292) This invention pertains to band-applyingmachines designed to apply 'seamless bands of suitable material, forinstance regenerated cellulose or the like, to an article of a diametersuch that the band may be slipped thereon, for example the neck of abottle. Such a band, when applied to a bottle neck, is usually intendedto seal the cork or other top closure. The application of such sealingVbands is customarily done by hand, although mechanism has heretoforebeen proposed for applying bands automatically. As a hand operation itis slow and laborious.

The band-forming material employed for this purpose is desirably of akind which, Vafter Vapplication to 'a bottle neck, for instance, willshrink so as automatically Vto Vform a good seal. When regeneratedcellulose is the material selected, the bands (attened to conservespace) are usually stacked in a container in which the 'bands are moistand soft and from which they are removed one-byone and opened tocircular form before they are slipped onto the bottle neck.

The present invention has for its principal object the l provision of anautomatically operated machine capable or" applying bands to necks ofbottles, which are advanced one after another by conveyor means to abandapplying station, and which is capable of operating at I the highspeed necessary to keep up with other operations performed on bottles,for example labeling, and which will operate certainly and withprecision.

A further object is to provied a machine so designed as, by easyadjustment, to adapt it to the banding of bottles of widely dierentheights and/or neck diameters. A further object is to provide anautomatic machine of the above type 'wherein the band is formed 'justprior to its application, by cutting olf from attened tubing of theselected material a length just sufr'icient to constitute a single band,and comprising means whereby the length or' the piece of tubing sosevered from the supply may readily be varied thereby (to provide bandsof different widths. A further object is 'to provide a machine ofautomatic type for applying seamless bands to articles such as the necksof bottles and which is of simple, relatively inexpensive and durableconstruction and of great versatility in respect to the sizes of thearticles to be banded. Other and further objects and advantages vof theinvention will be pointed out in the following more detailed descriptionand by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a front view of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown inFigure l, taken on line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a detail view of the bottle stopping mechanism;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of one of the vacuum cupsemployed in the invention;

2,751,735 Patented June 26, 1956 mice Figure 5 is a detail side view ofone of the vacuum cups;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, plan view, to much larger scale than Fig. 1,illustrating the -means whereby 'the cutting blades and suction cups areAmoved in properly timed arrangement; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring specifically to Figures 1 and 2, the device is mounted on twosupports '2 having -fonr vertical posts 4 mounted thereon. A conveyor 6runs between the supports 2 and carries a plurality of bottles 8 whichtravel from right to left, as viewed in Figure 2. Mounted on posts 4 isa vertically adjustable carriage `comprising side plates 10, said sideplates 10 being secured 'to vbearings 12 which are slidably mounted onposts 4. Side plates 10 are joined at their upper ends by a cross member14 which is drilled and tapped and receives a screw 16. Screw 16 isrotatably journalled in a bridge member 18 xed to the upper ends of theposts 4. The screw may be rotated by hand wheel 2u mounted on the 'upperend thereof thereby to adjust the carriage up or down.

Mounted at the left side of the device, as viewed in Figure 2, is anelectric drive motor 22 connected to shaft 24, said shaft drivingvariable speed pulley 26. Pulley 26 is provided with a hand wheel v2Sfor varying the effective diameter thereof. Power is transmittedr'fromvariable speed pulley v26 through belt 35) to sheave 32. Sheave 32 ismounted on shaft 34.said shaft also having worm gear 36 Vmountedthereon. Worm gear 36 engages with gear 38 (Fig. l) mounted on maincross shaft 40.

Main cross shaft 40 has a crank disk 42 mounted on the left-hand endthereof, as viewed in Figure l. A crank pin 44 is mounted in a slot incrank disk 42 and is secured in said slot by `screw 46. Screw 46 isthreaded into crank disk 42 and engages with cooperating threads in stud44. Screw 46 may be locked kin position by lock nut 48. Pivoted to crankpin 44 is a connecting rod 50 which is pivotally secured at its upperend, :as shown at S2 (Fig. 2) to lever 54. Lever 54 is ulcrumed on across shaft 56 carried by the side plates 10. Attached to the right-handend of lever 54, by a pin and slot connection at 58 (Fig. 2), .is aconnecting `link 60. 'Connecting link -60 is rpivotally secured at itslower end, as shown at 62, to a vertically movable slide 64.

Slide 64 reciprocates in a supporting bracket 66 which is secured to anon-rotating cross bar 68, as by key 70. The ends ofthe cross bar 68 arefixed to the side plates lil of the vertically adjustable carriage.

Mounted on the front of slide 64 are two rotatable shafts 72 (Figs. v1and 7), each of which lis provided with a gripper 74 which Vengages acontinuousV tube of banding material 76. The grippers are biased 'towardeach other by tension springs 78. Mounted on 'each of shafts 72 is acollar (Fig. 2) each of which has a pin Y82 (Fig. l) projectingtherefrom. The pins 82 are adapted to engage, Von the downward stroke ofthe slide, withI pins 84. Pins S4 are adjustably mounted in slots in thebracket 66 so tnat the vertical position thereof may be changed. i

As the grippers 74' move down with the banding material gripped between'them they -advance a length of banding material (suilcient to form one'band) between 'the'vacuum cups (hereinafter described) which areseparated in time to permit the downwardly advancing-'end of the bandingmaterial to enter between them.

Also mounted on slide assemblyy 64 are the two vacuum cups '86 (Figs.'1, 6 and 7') which are supported on the ends 'of two horizontallyslidable racks 88. Racks V88 are slidably mounted in supporting bracketswhich are -tixedly secured to the slide 64. Mounted above vacuumV'during a portion of each revolution.

cups 86 is a cutter comprising two blades 92 and 94. Blades 92 and 94are fixed to carriers C1 and CZ which are horizontally slidable in thesupporting brackets 90. Knife `blades 92 Aand 94 are actuatedby levers96 which are connected to the carriers for the blades 92 and 94 by pinand slot connections, las shown at 98. Levers 96 are secured at theirlower ends to two shafts 100, said V*shafts 100 also having gears 102Vmounted thereon, said gears meshing with racks 88. Shafts 1007aremounted Ytions'of the racksu108. AAlsomounted on each of the shafts 100is a clutchV assembly 113 consisting of a fibre disc, compressionspring, andk thumb nut. The friction of the iibre discs against bearings104 prevents any further rotation of gears 106 when they leaveengagement with racks 108. l

' Secured to the left vacuum cup 86, as viewed in Figure 1, is a rigidvacuum'line 114 which has a flexible vacuum hose 116 secured to theother end thereof, as best seen 'in'Figure 2. Vacuum hose 116 is securedto one port 118 of a vacuum slide valve 120. Also secured to port 118 ofthe vacuum slide valve is a iiexible vacuum hose 122 which is secured'tothe right-hand vacuum cup 86, as shown in Figure 1'. Vacuum hose 124(Fig. 2) is secured to port 125 of vacuum valve l120 and may beconnected vat'its opposite end tov a conventional vacuum pump.

Vacuum valve 120 is also provided with exhaust port 127. Vacuum slidevalve 120 is provided with a rod 126 which has a lever 128 securedthereto, said lever 128 being `rotatably pinned to side plate 10, asshown at 130. Lever A128 is provided with a cam follower 132 whichengages cam 135 mounted on main cross shaft 40. 1 Also mounted on maincross shaft 40 is' a disk 136, having a radial slot 138 therein, inwhich is Vsecured pin 140. As'plate 136 rotates, pin 140 engages an arm142 Y Arm 142 is biased upwardly by tension spring 143. Arm 142 issecured to a shaft 144, said shaft 144 also'having a bevel gear 146mounted thereon.v Shaft 144 isjournaled in one of the side plates 10./Bevel gear 146 engageswith bevel gear 148, which is secured to avertical shaft 150. Vertical shaft 150 is-journalled at its upper end ina bracket 152 (Fig. l) secured to one of the side plates and at itsylower end in a bracket 154 Xed to one of the supports 2. Vertical shaft150 has a lever secured to its lower portion, which actuafes theV bottlestopping mechanism.

'Referring specifically to Figure 3, lever 156 is secured yto the lowerend of shaft 150 and has link 158 connected thereto. Link 158 isadjustable, and the length thereof maybe varied by rotating turnbuckle160. Link 158 is rotatably pinned to leverV 156, as shown at 162, and isalso rotatably pinned to bottle stop lever .164, as shown atV 166.Bottle stop lever.164 is rotatably pinned in slot 167 in a horizontalflange on one .of the bottle guide rails 168, as shown at 170, and hasan angular end 172 constituting a gate which projects through anaperture in the bottle guide rail 168, so that it may engage a bottle 8.

Referring to Figure -1, it will be seen that Vthe spaced,

. parallel bottle guide rails 168 are mounted onrsupporting members 174,said supporting members 174 being slidably mounted inY supports 2, inorder that the distance between the rails may be varied.

Mounted on the right-hand end of main cross shaft 40, as viewed inFigure 1, is a sprocket 176 having chain 178 mounted thereon, said chain1178 driving a sprocket 180. Sprocket 180 is mounted on -a shaft 182,saidY shaft 182 Yhaving a bevel gear 184 mounted thereon, which engages4 abevelgear 186 mounted on aV shaft 188. Shaft 188 is journalled in asupporting plate 190 forming a part of the vertically adjustablecarriage. Mounted on shaft 188 is an arm 192 having a roller 194 mountedthereon which engages the tube of banding material 76.V The tube of lbanding material passesl over two freely rotatable rollers 196 (Fig. l),said rollers 196 being mounted on the supporting plate 190. Mounted oncrossshaft 182 is a cam 198 (Fig. 2), having a cam follower 200 engagingtherewith. Cam follower 200 is carried by a lever 202 which is rotatablymounted on'the left-hand end of a shaft' 204. The shaft 204 is mountedin brackets 212 which are fixed to the supporting plate 190. Lever 202,at its right-hand end, as viewed in Figure 2, has a gripping face 206which compresses the tube of banding material between said gripping faceand the left-hand one of the rollers 196 (as viewed in Fig. l), when thehigh side of the cam is in engagement with the Y cam follower 200.Rotatably mounted on the right-hand end of shaft 204, as yiewed inFigure 1, is asecond lever 208 having a gripping face 210 thereon, whichcompresses the continuous tube Yof banding material between saidgripping face and the lefthand roller 196, as viewed in Fig. l, when thelowV side of cam Y198 engages cam followerf200. Lever 208 is actuated bya cam and calm ,follower (not shown) similar to 198 and 200, but havingAthe high side of theY cam rotated 180 with respect to cam 198.

Referring specifically to Figures 4 and 5, one of the vacuum cups 86 isshown in detail. It has a rubber facing material 213 where it engages acut band 214 indicated in broken lines. Sleeve member 216 is slidablymounted on member 218 which is secured to rack bar 88. Secured tobracket is a bracket 220 having rod 222 slidably received therein, theright-hand end of the rod, as viewed in Fig. 4, being fixed to thesleeve 216. The rod 222 is threaded at its left-hand end and providedwith spaced thumb nuts 224. y

Movement of the rack 88 to the right (Fig. 4) initialiy causes thesleeve 216 also to move to the right due to the friction between theparts 218 'and 216, but eventually the sleeve 216 stops while the part218V continues te move. This is due to the fact that the movement of thepart 216 is limited by engagement of the left-hand thumb nut 224 withthe bracket 220. At the end of its right-hand motion the concaveright-hand surface of the central portion of the cup, which is carriedby the part 218, contacts one of the flat faces of the flattened band ofmaterial. This central part of the cup is provided with a vacuum port226 which communicates with a passage 230 leading to the vacuum line114. The marginal portions of the cup formed by the sleeve 216 areprovided with vacuum ports 228 which also communicate with the aperture230 when the vacuum cup is fully retracted, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.It may be noted at this point that the arcuate surface Vof the vacuumcupsas a whole is of the order of 90 in extent. while the centralportion of the cup` carried by the Dart 218. is of onlv about 30 ofarcuate extent. When the vacuumk cup 86 is fin its advanced position,that is to say in a position for its central portion to engage the flatsurface of Vthe banding material, the port 226 only is in communicationwith the vacuum line since at this time the rearends .of the ports orpassages 228 are closed by Yportions of the member 218. Thus the centralpart only of each cup engages the yflattened band and since thecurvature of these central portions is relatively slight, it is possiblefor these central portions to make close contact with the tiat surfaceof the band so that suction at the port 226 may Vfirmly grip the band.'VWhen the cupY 86 is retracted for opening the band the hat surface ofthe band is initially gripped at the port 226 and the band is thuspulled partly open. However, as

the member88 continues to moveoutwardly, the other ports, thusconforming the`band tothe substantially circular curvature of thelentire cup, Athe band being held to the concave lsurface of the cup 'atthree separate points about its periphery. Thus the two cups, incooperation, hold the band in very nearly circular form Yso vthat it isreadily slipped down over the neck of the bottle.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Electric motor 22 is energized, land power is Vsupplied to the maincross shaft 41B through shaft V24, `variable speed pulley 26, belt 3Q,pulley 32, and worm gear 36, Which meshes with gear 38 mounted on crossshaft 40. As cross shaft 40 rotates, crank disk 42 is Valso rotated anda reciprocating motion is imparted to lever 54thr0ugh stud`44 mounted oncrank wheel 42, and 'link 50 connected to stud 44, and lever 54. Aslever 54 reciprocates, Amain slide assembly 64 is also reciprocated, dueto the connection between slide 64 and lever l54 through link 60, whichworks in pin and slot connection 58, at the right-hand end of lever 54,as viewed in'Figure 2.

It is assumed that the grippers 74 have ladvanced a length of thebanding material downwardly -so that it is between the suction cups (thelength thus advanced being determined by the engagement of pins 82 withthe vertically adjustable pins S4) and that the cutter blades havesevered this band-forming length from the supply;

As slide 64 moves downwardly, the action of gears v106 againststationary racks 16S begins to separate vacuum cups 86, due to theconnection between gears 162 and racks S3, while vacuum is establishedat thesuction ports inside the vacuum cups, due `to the action of slidevalve 126. Thus the bands are opened out to a Vrounded contour. When theseparating of the vacuum cups has opened the band to maximum diameter,gears 106 roll oi the ends of stationary racks 108, which Yterminatesseparation of the cups. The final downward movement of the vacuum cupassembly slips the open band over the neck of a bottle positionedbetween the vacuum cups at the bottom of the downward stroke, as shownin phantom in Figure l. At this point, the vacuum is cut off and theslide begins its return stroke to the closed position, as viewed inFigure l.

During the downward stroke ofthe slide 64, gripping face 219 holds thebanding material stationary against roller 196 while the opposedgrippers 74, attached to slide assembly 64, pull the slackbanding'material into position for the next cut. The slack material ispulled from a roll during the return stroke by the rotationof crank arrn192, while gripping face 296 clamps the material and gripping face 216releases it.

The bottle changing operation 'takes place during the upward stroke ofthe slide assembly 64. The stop or gate 172 is disengaged from thebottle 8 by the action of eccentric roller 14% (Fig. 2) striking lever1'42. This movement is transmitted tothe bottle stop (Fig. 3) throughgears 146 and 14%, vertical shaft 150, lever 156 and link 15S. Tensionspring 143 (Fig. 2) returns the bottle stop or gate to its originalposition.

To compensate for different bottle heights, the carriage which comprisesthe side plates 1G may be raised or lowered on rails 4 by turning handwheel 20. Thus it will be seen that when hand wheel is turned ,so thatthe side supporting plates 10 are raised, the clearance between theconveyor 6 and the vacuum cups 86`is increased, thus permitting a largerbottle to pass beneath the device. Guide rails 16S (Fig. l) areadjustably mountedso'that the distance therebetween .may be increased or'decreased to compensate for dierent bottle diameters. The bottle stopor gate 172 is adjusted by turnbuckle 160 in link 15S, and pin 179 inslot 167.

As previously noted,- the horizontal travel of the vacuum cups S6 isvaried in accordance with the diameter of the band to be applied. Thistravel is controlled by the length of the downward motion of slide 64before the gears 136 disengage the normally stationary racks 108. Thismay be varied by rotating the knurled heads 119 `on the shafts whichcarry the gears 112, this having the d effect of varying the heights ofthe lower ends of the rac'ks '108. .n

Although the banding material used with the disclosed embodiment of theinvention has been specically disclosed as a continuous `tube of wetregenerated cellulose which has theV property of shrinking upon drying,it is obvious that other types of banding material could alsobeemployed, and all other suitable types of banding materials are alsoincluded within the scope of this invention.

From the foregoing description, it is obvious that the device of thisinvention performs an operation (which, if done manually, is tedious andslow) with speed and accuracy and by Vthe Ause of a minimum ofmechanical parts. lt'will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat many modications may be made Within the scope of the invention, andthe invention is to be restricted only in accordance with the appendedclaims.

What is lclaimed is:

l. A device for applying bands to containers comprising a frame, meansfor supporting a bottle with its axis substantially vertical, avertically reciprocable slide carried Iby the frame, means forreciprocating the slide, opposed vacuum-type gripper devices designed tohold an open band in axial alignment with the bottle as the slidecompletes -its downward stroke, cutting means mounted 4on the slidedesigned to cut a band from a continuous tube, means actuable b ydownward motion of the slideY to operate the cutting means, grippingmeans mounted on the slide and which are operativeto feed a continuoustube of banding material into operative engagement with the cuttingmeans, and means actuable by downward lmotion of the slide for operatingthe band-feeding means.

2. In a machine of the class described, a frame, means for supporting abottle, 'with vits axis vertical, at the lower part of the frame, avertically movable carriage carried by the frame, means for adjustingthe carriage to different heights thereby to accommodate bottles ofdiierent heights, a slide mounted on the carriage for vertical movement,means for reciprocating the slide, means supported by the slide vformeasuring a length from a supply of iiattened tubing and for severingsaid length from the supply, means mounted on the slide for opening thesevered length of tubing, and means for Varying the position of thecarriage whereby said length of material so severed maybe varied atwill.

3. 'In a machine of the class described, a frame, means for supporting abottle, with its axis vertical, at the lower part vof the frame, avertically movable carriage 'carried by the frame, means for adjustingthe carriage to diiferent heights thereby to accommodate bottles ofdiierent heights, a slide mounted yon the carriage for verticalmovement, means for reciprocating the slide, means supported by theslide for measuring a Ylength from a supply of iiattened tubing and forsevering said length from the supply, the means for measuring oi thelength of material comprising a pair of grippers mounted on the slideand which are engageable with opposite faces of the band, and meansoperative to release the band from the grippers at a predetermined pointin the downward movement of the slide.

4. In a machine ofthe class described, means for supporting a bottlewith its axis vertical, a frame, a vertically movable carriage supportedby the frame, a slide mounted for vertical reciprocating motion inguides on the carriage, band-advancing means, band-cutting means andband-opening means, all mounted on the slide, and means for moving theslide up and down relatively to the carriage, normally stationarypartsmounted on the carriage lwith which parts carried by the slide cooperatewhereby downward movement of the slide actuates the band-advancing andcutting means and the band opening devices in timed relation.

5. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a5 bottle-with its axis vertical, a frame, a verticalcarriage, band-advancingmeans, band-cutting means and band-opening means, all mounted on theslide, means for adjusting the carriage thereby to accommodate bottlesof different heights, and parts mounted on the carriage which cooperatewith parts on the slide for actuating'ithe bandadvancing, band-cuttingVand band-'opening means all in timed relation as the slide is moveddownwardly relatively to the carriage.

6. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a bottlewith its axis vertical, a frame, a vertically movable carriage supportedby the frame, a slide mounted for vertical reciprocating motion inguides on the carriage, band-advancing means, band-cutting means andband-opening means, all mounted on the slide, normally stationary butvertically adjustable racks mounted on the carriage, and pinionsiournaled on the Aslide which engage the racks during a portion, atleast, of the downwardmotion of the slide and thereby actuate the meansfor cutting and opening the band. Y

7. In a machine ofthe class described, a vertically reciprocable slide,a pair of rotatable grippers mounted on the slide, spring means tendingto moveVv the grippers toward each otherthereby to grip banding materialinterposed between them so as to advance the banding material as theslide moves downwardly, a plurality of clamping devices spaced apartlongitudinally of the banding material, and all of which are engageablewith the banding material before the latter reaches the grippers, meanswhereby the clamping devices are made effective alternately, and meansinterposed between the clamping devices for drawing olf bandingmaterialrfrom a supply.

8. LIn a machine of the class described, a reciprocable slide, a pair ofrotatable grippers mounted on the slide, spring means tending to movethe grippers toward each other thereby to grip banding materialinterposed between themY so as to advance the banding material as theslide moves in one direction, a pair of clamping devices spaced Y Ylongitudinally of the banding material, and both of which engage thebanding material before the latter reaches the grippers, means forclosing that clamping device which is nearer the grippers as the slidestarts to move in the opposite'direction and for Vsimultaneously openingthe other clamping device, means interposed between the successiveclamping devices for drawing otf banding material from a supply, andmeans operative, as the slide again starts its reverse motion to closethe clamping device which is more remote from the grippers and to openthe clamping device which is nearer to the grippers. Y

Y 9i Vln a machine oftheV class described, a frame, means forYsupporting a bottle, with its axis vertical, at the lower part of theframe, a vertically movable carriage carried by the frame, means foradjusting the carriage to different heights thereby to accommodatebottles of different 7 heights, a slide mounted on the carriage-forvertical movement, means for reciprocating'the slide, means supported bythe slide for measuring a length from a supply of attened tubing andfforsevering said length from the supply, means carried by the slide foropening the attened band to approximately circular form and for holdingit coaxial with the bottleneck while the slide completes its downwardmovement thereby to place the band on the bottle neck, and meansresponsive to movement of the slide for actuating the measuring,severing means, and band-opening means in properly timed relation. Y

l0. In a machine for applying open ended bands to bottle necks andincluding means for supporting a bottle in position to'receive a band,means for advancing a length of flattened tubular band-forming material,from a supply, sufficient to form a single band, means forsevering'saidlength from the supply and means for opening the severed length ytoapproximately circular contour and formoving the opened length in anaxial direction thereby to apply it to the bottle neck, saidopening andapplying-means s Y Y comprising, in combination, a pair of opposedsuction devices operative to grip the severed length of material at itsopposite fiat faces, means for moving the suction devicesapart therebyto open the severed `length to approximately circular contour, means formoving the suction devices axially ofthe bottle thereby to slip the bandover the bottle neck, and means for varying the amount of such movementof the suction devices axially of the bottle thereby toV determine thelocation of the band on the bottle neck.V

ll. In combination in a machine for applying an open ended band (to abottleneck and wherein the band to be applied is initially in the formof a length of liattened tubing, means Vincluding a suction elementengageable with the central part of each respective external face of'the ilattenedtube, means for moving said suction elements in oppositedirections thereby to initiate opening of the tube, and auxiliarysuction elements, associated with each of the first-named suctionelements which also engage the outside surface of the tube and whichcooperate with the first-named suction elements to complete the openingof the band, and means operative to separate the rstnamed suctionelements thereby partially to open the band, and means operative tocreate suction at the auxiliary suction elements thereby to completedistention of the band. i

l2. In combination in a machine for applying an open ended band to abottle neck and wherein the band to be applied is initially in the formof a length of attened tubing, suction means including relativelymovable pri- .mary and secondary suction elements engageable withtheropposite faces of the flattened tube, means operative iirst tocontact the primary suction elements with said opposite facesrespectively/,and to separate'the primary elements thereby to initiateopening of the band, and means operative thereafter to create suction atthe secondary elements thereby to complete distention of the band. Y Y

13. In combination in a machine for applying open ended bands to thenecks of bottles and wherein the band to be' applied is initially in theform of a flattened tube, means for distending the flattened tubeV tocircular form preparatory to applying it to the bottle neck, saidclistending means comprising a rigid, concave, arcuate element whoseradius of curvature -is approximately that t of the band when the latteris fully distended, Va suction pad operative to Vengage the centralportion of one of the at faces of the band and to draw it outwardlytoward the concave surface of said rigid part, the latter having suctionports in its concave face, and means for creating suction at'said portsthereby to conform the band to said concave surface,

14. In combination in a machine for applying open ended bands to thenecks of bottles and wherein the band to be applied is initially in theform of a flattened tube, means for distending the attened' tube 'tocircular form preparatory to applying it to the bottle neck, saiddistending means comprising spaced, coaxial, rigid, concave, arcuateelements whose radius of curvature is approximately that of the bandwhen the latter is fully distended, a suction pad interposed betweensaid elements, means for creating suction at the suction pad thereby tocause the central portion of the at face of the band to adhere thereto,and means thereafter operative to create suction at said arcuateelements to conform portions of the band atopposite sides of the pad tosaid concave elements.

l5. In combination in a. machine for applying open ended bands to thenecks of bottles and wherein the vband to be applied is initially inthe'form of a attened tube,

means for distending the-attened tube to circular formV preparatory toapplying it to the bottle neck, said distending means comprising arigid, concave, arcuate part whose Y radius of curvature isapproximately that of the band when the latter is fully Vdistended, asuction pad constituting the central portionof said concave part, twoconcavely curved elements constituting the marginal portions of saidcurved part, said pad and each of said elements having therein suctionports, means lor moving the suction pad in a direction to distend theband, and means whereby, after the pad has moved a predetermineddistance, suction is created at the suction ports of the curved elementsat either side of the pad.

l6. A band-distending device comprising aprimary suction element and anauxiliary suction element, each element having a band-engaging faceprovided with a suction port, a suction chamber in the primary suctionelement, suction passages in the auxiliary and primary elements,respectively, means for moving the primary and auxiliary elementssimultaneously a predetermined distance toward band-contacting position,means for stopping the auxiliary element before the primary elementcontacts the band, valve means closing the opening to the passage in theauxiliary element while the parts are in the last-named position, andmeans for moving the elements outwardly and during such movement to opensaid valve thereby to create suction at the suction ports of theauxiliary element.

17. A suction device for `use in a banding machine, said suction devicecomprising a core and a sleeve slidable thereon, the core having asuction port in its end and an interior chamber with which the portcommunicates, the sleeve having a plurality of suction ports in its end,passages leading from said suction ports and which at times communicatewith the chamber in the core, the core and sleeve frictionally engagingso that the sleeve tends to move with the core when the latter is movedaxially, means for `reciprocating the core along a path of predeterminedextent, and means for stopping the sleeve after it has moved with thecore ,in either direction before the core has completed its movement.

18. in a machine for applying open ended bands to bottle necks andincluding means for supporting a bottle in position to receive a band,means for advancing a length of attened tubular band-forming material,from a supply, suicient to form a single band, means for severing saidlength from the supply, and means for opening the severed length toapproximately circular contour and for moving the opened length in anaxial direction thereby to apply it to the bottle neck, said opening andapplying means comprising, in combination, a pair of opposed suctiondevices each having a concave face of an arcuate extent such as tocontact approximately 90 of the circumference of the opened band andeach having a plurality or" circumferentially spaced suction ports,means for creating suction at all of the ports of each suction device,means for moving said suction devices apart thereby to open the lengthof material to approximately .circular form, and means for moving thesuction devices axially of the bottle thereby to slip the opened bandonto the bottle neck.

19. In a machine for applying open ended bands to bottle necks andincluding means for supporting a bottle in position to receive a band,means for advancing a length or flattened tubular band-forming material,from a supply, sufficient to fonn a single band, means for severing saidlength Vfrom the supply, and means for opening the severed length toapproximately circular contour and for moving the opened length in anaxial direction thereby to apply it to the bottle neck, said opening andapplying means comprising, in combination, a pair of opposed suctiondevices each having a concave face of an arcuate extent such as tocontact approximately 90 of the circumference of the band when fullyopened, each of said concave faces comprising a central portion, of anarcuate extent of the order of 30, having therein a suction port, andmarginal portions each having therein a suction port, said central andmarginal portions being relatively movable, means for moving the centralportion of the respective suction devices forwardly from the marginalportions and into contact with the opposed faces respectively of severed,length of flattened tubular material, means lfor creating suction atthe ports in Vsaid central parts and for retracting said central .partsthereby to initiate opening of the band, and means operative thereby tocreate suction at the ports in the marginal portions of the suctiondevices thereby to .distend the band substantially to circular contour.

2'. In a neck banding machine of the kind wherein conveyor meansadvances a bottle to and removes it from a band-applying station atwhich it dwells with its axis substantially vertical while the band isbeing applied and wherein the band is held in openedposition by a pairof suction devices and is slipped over the bottle neck by relativemovement of the bottle and the suction .devices axially Vol the bottle,and wherein 'the band is a length of material which is cut from a supplyof attened tubing, in co nation, a carriage located above theband-applying station, meansl supported by the carriage for advancing aband-forming length of flattened tubing between the suction devices,means supported by the carriage for severing said band-forming 'lengthfrom the tube, means supported on the carriage for supporting thesuction devices and for so actuating them as to open the band-formingmaterial so introduced between them, means supported on the carriage formoving Athe same suction devices downwardly a predetermined distancewhile holding the opened band thereby to slip the opened band over thebottle neck, and means for adjusting the .carriage vertically thereby tovary the position of the horizontal plane of the lower edge of the bandas the latter arrives at its final position on the bottle neck.

2l. A neck vbanding machine according to claim 20 compris'ing means forvarying the distance to which the suction devices move horizontally inopening the band thereby to adapt the machine .for use with bands ofdifferent diameters.

22. ln apparatus of the class described, means for supporting a bottlewith its axis substantially vertical, a slide movable up or down axiallyof the bottle and Vabove the latter, a pair of opposed :suction devicescarried by the slide, said devices being movable away from each otherthereby to open a band held between them, vertical, normally stationary,racks, pinions journaled on the slide and which engage the racks duringthe earlier part, at least, or" the downward motion of the slide, meansactuable by rotation oi the pinions to separate the suction devicesthereby to open the bands, the racks being of such length that thepinions continue to engage them as the slide descend-s until the suctiondevices have been separated suiciently to open the band whereupon thepinions roll oli from the lower ends of the racks and the suctiondevices remain at a fixed distance apart during the remainder of thedownward motion of the slide.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 having means for adjusting the racksvertically thereby to vary the separation of the suction devices so asto accommodate bands of different diameters.

24. A device for applying bands to containers comprising a frameworkadapted to be mounted above a conveyor, a pair of vertically andhorizontally movable vacuum heads, means for causing a container todwell in bandreceiving position with its axis vertical, means forintroducing a band-forming length of attened tubing between said vacuumheads, means for creating suction at said vacuum heads and forsimultaneously moving the vacuum heads horizontally in oppositedirections away from the axis of the container thereby to open the bandmaterial, means for simultaneously moving the heads vertically downwhile holding the open band thereby to slip the band over the container,and means for varying the lower limit of the path or" movement of thevacuum heads.

25. A device for applying bands to containers comprising a frameworkadapted to be mounted above a conveyor, means for causing a container todwell in bandreceiving position, a pair of vertically and horizontallythe movable vacuum cups, a verticall movable slide on which the vacuumcups are mounted for-horizontal movement, means for reciprocating theslide vertically along a path of predetermined extent, means forintroducing a attened band beneath the vacuum cups, means for movingthe'cupsl oppositely in a horizontal direction thereby to open the bandand to hold the band open while the slide moves vertically down so as toslip the band over the container, and means for varying the lower limitof movement of the slide to accommodate the device to containers ofdifferent sizes. i

26. A devicefor applying bands to containers comprising afi-ame,meansforholding a bottle, with its axis vertical, in band-receivingposition, a vertically adjustable but normally stationary'cariagesupported by a frame, a vertical reciprocable Vslidel mounted on thecarriage, means for reciprocating.they slide, horizontally movablevacuum heads mountedonthe slide, means carried by the 'slide forintroducing a band-forming length of attened tubing betweensaid heads,means for creating suction atlsaid heads, 'means responsive todownwardmotion of the slide for'simultaneously moving the heads horizontally inopposite directions away from the axis of the bottle thereby to openVthe band material, and means for determining the lowerVV limit ofmovement of the slide thereby properly to locate the band on the bottle.

27. A device for applying bands to containers, comprising a frame, meansfor supporting a bottle with its axis substantially vertical at thelower part of the frame, a vertically reciprocable slide, a pair'ofopposed vacuumtype gripperrs, carriers for the grippers mounted to movehorizontally along "guides carried by the slide, means on Vthe slide foradvancing a length of attened tubing between the grippers, means on theslide for cutting ofI said length of tubing thereby to produce a singleband,

means for Y moving the grippers .oppositely thereby to open the band,the same grippers being operative to hold the band open while the slidemoves downwardly thereby to place the band on the bottle neck, and meansresponsive to downward movement of the slide for actuating the cuttingmeans.

28.Y In combination, in a machine for applying bands, open at both ends,to the necks of bottles and wherein the band to be applied is initiallyin the form of a flattened tubehaving opposed walls which aresubstantially in contact with each other, means for distending theattened tube to circular form preparatory to applying it to thebottleneck, said distending means comprising two opposed relativelymovable vacuum cups, each banddistending vacuum cup comprising meansoperative to define a cylindrically. curved, band-contacting surfacewhose radius .of curvatureV is approximately that of the fully distendedband and which is of an arcuate extent of approximately 90, each cuphaving a plurality of suctionorices disposed in a row Vextendingcircumferentially of said cylindrically curved surface.

V29. In combination in a machine for applying bands, open at both ends,tothe lneck of bottles and wherein the band to be applicdis initially inthe form of a attened tube having opposedV walls'which are substantiallyin Contact with eachother, means for distending the attenedv tube tocircularfoirn preparatory to applying it to the bottle neck, saiddistending means comprising two opposed relativelymovable vacuum cups,each of said portion, and means whereby Ysaid central portion of theVband-'contacting surface of each cup is contacted with the band prior tothe contact of the band with the lateral portions of said surface.

30. ln combination in a machine for applying bands,V

Vopen at both ends, to the necks of bottles andV wherein the band to beapplied is initially in the form of a flattened tubehaving opposed wallswhich aresubstantially in contact with each other, means for distendingthe attened tube to circularform preparatory to applying it to to thebottle neck, said distending meanscomprising two opposed, relativelymovable vacuumcups, Aeach of said band-distending vacuum cups comprisingmeans operative to define a cylindrically curved band-contacting surfacewhose radius Vof curvature is approximately that of the fully distendedband and whichis of an arcuate extent of approximately 90, the'cylindrically curved surface of each cup comprising a central Vportionin which there is at least one suction orifice, said central portionbeing of an arcuateextent of approximately 30 and being movablerelatively to the lateral portions of said cylindrically curved surface.1

31.111 combination in a machine for applying bands, open at both ends,to the'necks ofy bottles and wherein the band to be applied is initiallyin the form of a at- Vtened tube having opposed walls which aresubstantially in contact with each othermeans for distending the attenedtube Yto circular form preparatory Vto applying it to the bottle neck,said distending means comprising twoopposed, relatively movable vacuumcups, each. of said band-distending vacuum cupscomprising meansoperative to define a cylindrically curved band-contacting surface whoseVradius of curvature is approximately that of the fully distended bandand which is of an arcuate extent exceeding 60,'each band-distendingvacuum cup having therein a plurality of'spaced suction oriceswhich areVarranged in a row which extends circumferentially of said cylindricallycurved surface, 4the curved surface of each cup being kso constructedand arranged as to impart an accurately cylindrical curvature to thatportion of the periphery of a band which contacts said surface.

Referencescitedin the le of-this patent

